# Text

Text messages contain only a text body and an optional link preview.

![](https://3527970750-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M4sMxKjL6eJRvZn6jeG-887967055%2Fuploads%2F9ydHP5rwfN0H9lOtR400%2Ftext.png?alt=media\&token=03d4ca42-c302-4d97-be53-ffcd147d3dcb)

### Text Message Request

Use the messages endpoint to send a text message to a WhatsApp user.

<mark style="color:orange;">`POST`</mark> `https://waba-v2.360dialog.io/messages`

**Headers**

| Name          | Value              |
| ------------- | ------------------ |
| Content-Type  | `application/json` |
| Authorization | `D360-API-KEY`     |

**Body Example**

```json
{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "recipient_type": "individual",
  "to": "<WHATSAPP_USER_PHONE_NUMBER>",
  "type": "text",
  "text": {
    "preview_url": <ENABLE_LINK_PREVIEW>,
    "body": "<BODY_TEXT>"
  }
}
```

**Response**

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="200" %}

```json
{
  "contacts": [
    {
      "input": "text",
      "wa_id": "text"
    }
  ],
  "messages": [
    {
      "id": "text",
      "message_status": "accepted"
    }
  ],
  "messaging_product": "text"
}
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="400" %}

```json
{
  "error": "Invalid request"
}
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

### Link preview

The WhatsApp client can attempt to generate a preview for the first URL in the message body, provided it begins with `http://` or `https://`. If multiple URLs are included, only the first will be rendered as a preview. If omitted or if a preview cannot be retrieved, the URL will be displayed as a clickable link instead.

### Formatting in Text Messages <a href="#formatting" id="formatting"></a>

WhatsApp allows some formatting in messages. To format all or part of a message, use these formatting symbols:

| Formatting         | Symbol                   | Example                          |
| ------------------ | ------------------------ | -------------------------------- |
| **Bold**           | Asterisk (\*)            | Your total is \*$10.50\*.        |
| *Italics*          | Underscore (\_)          | Welcome to \_WhatsApp\_!         |
| ~~Strike-through~~ | Tilde (\~)               | This is \~better\~ best!         |
| `Code`             | Three backticks (\`\`\`) | \`\`\`print 'Hello World';\`\`\` |